Pine City via the Eagle Cliff Hills - 9.4 Miles Round-Trip

Pine City is located in a maze of rugged and heavily vegetated canyons in the northeast corner of Queen Valley. It's named for a high concentration of pinyon pine that are sheltered and funneled water by surrounding canyons and rock formations.

The Eagle Cliff Trail bends NW and undulates to the basin wall, which it scales on a steep, narrow and faint path (.75 miles : 4,263'). Anticipate slick footing over loose rock and sand.

Note higher concentrations of juniper, pinyon, oak, nolina, and yucca as you gain elevation. Mound, beavertail and hedgehog cacti also appear on this challenging climb. The trail squeezes through a gap beneath adjacent boulders (.95 miles : 4,574'), and continues up to the crest of a high ridge (1.0 miles : 4,602').

Ignore an unmarked spur that branches right just before reaching the crest, and aim for the lone pinyon pine straight ahead (atop the ridge) to remain on track.

Survey the basin below before dropping in. Rugged travel moderates on a more distinct path through the Eagle Cliff Hills, a stretch highlighted by large rock formations and dense vegetation. Remain vigilant through this complex and indistinguishable landscape.

At 2.0 miles (4,383') you'll reach the Desert Queen Mine complex, a cluster of gated mine shafts on a high ridge overlooking a deep canyon.

The Desert Queen Mine was a lucrative gold mining outfit that operated 1865 - 1961. The trail skirts the mines (left) and drops on a wide path into the canyon. It bottoms out on the canyon floor and crosses a wash (2.2 miles : 4,287'); once over it climbs steeply back up the far canyon wall. Keep left at a faint split shortly after the wash crossing (2.3 miles : 4,347').

The trail winds uphill to a sparsely vegetated plateau and unmarked junction with a dirt road (2.6 miles : 4,435'). Turn Left. The dirt road leads to the Pine City Trailhead (2.75 miles : 4,432'). The Pine City Trail heads north and level across Queen Valley, formed by different rates of erosion between the surrounding mountains and underlying rock.

Negro Hill (4,875') stands prominently over the Pine City Trailhead area, while Queen Mountain (5,687') and its east ridge frame the northern horizon. Joshua Trees dot the great expanse, but grow poorly in the far east end of their range.

The trail runs across the valley to a brief wash merge (4.0 miles : 4,538'), beyond which the landscape diversifies with large rock gardens and a variety of trees, cacti and shrubs (4.2 miles : 4,538'). This is generally considered the south edge of Pine City, and the Day Use Area demarcation.

The trail continues northeast to Pine City Overlook and an end of maintained trails sign (4.7 miles : 4,578'). Social trails branch down into canyons and along high ridges, the latter providing excellent views of the pine-filled maze below.

Steep pitches, large boulders, and tangled vegetation make canyon exploration difficult, but patient hikers will find safe passage. Skilled route-finders can drop into Pine City Canyon and follow it northeast through the mountains and across a bajada to connect with Park Boulevard near the North Entrance Station.

Worth Noting

Split Rock Picnic Area is s a day use area only. Locked gates prevent entry from sunset to sunrise, and vehicles left after dark are subject to citation.

Popular map sources (such as Park provided maps and National Geographic) don't adequately illustrate the trail system you'll experience while on foot between the Split Rock Loop and Pine City Trailhead. Trail connections are not marked (if they exist at all), and the location of mines are potentially misleading. Navigational vigilance is a must between these points.

Queen Mountain (5,687') is the second tallest peak in Joshua Tree National Park.

Those with time should consider completing the Split Rock Loop on the return, which adds an additional 1.7 miles to the hike. This worthy excursion is highlighted by Tulip Rock, The Tooth, and Face Rock - three geologic formations with uncanny likenesses to their given names.

The immense boulders you'll see on this hike are Monzogranite Rock, which forms when molten liquid, heated by the continuous movement of Earth's crust, seeps upward and cools while still below the surface. Monzogranite is often distinguished by rectangular joints and a rough, grippy surface prized by climbers.

The Pine City Day Use Area is designated to protect bighorn sheep that utilize water pockets in these canyons.

Camping and Backpacking Information

Permits are required for backcountry camping in Joshua Tree National Park. There are no designated backcountry campsites along the Split Rock, Eagle Cliff, or Pine City Trails.

Wilderness campsites must be located one mile from any road and 500' from any trail. Open fires are prohibited in the backcountry. Camping is not permitted within 500' of historical remains.

The Pine City vicinity is a Day Use Area, designated so to protect sensitive bighorn sheep populations and historical remains. Camping is not permitted in the Day Use Area.

The Day Use Area is not marked, so hikers are expected to identify and honor this zone on their own. The Day Use Area begins approximately 1.8 miles north of the Pine City Trailhead and Backcountry Board.

Rules and Regulations

Honor Day Use Area boundaries. Do not disturb wildlife or remove artifacts.

Do not enter mines at anytime.

Locked gates prevent entry to the Split Rock Trailhead and Picnic Area from sunset to sunrise, and vehicles left after dark are subject to citation.

Directions to Trailhead

The Split Rock Loop Trailhead is located in the north central region of Joshua Tree National Park, just off of Park Boulevard.

From Park Boulevard (2.2 miles west of the Park Boulevard - Pinto Basin Road intersection), turn north at the sign for Split Rock Picnic Area. Follow the dirt road .5 miles to the cul de sac parking area. There is no official trailhead marking. Identify the large boulder on the far north side of the parking area and walk around its left side. The trail is located just behind this boulder, which features a large cave on its back side.